Cantor's most cruel political grandstanding came after the terrible tornado that ravaged Joplin, Mo., killing and injuring hundreds this year. Cantor proclaimed that he would block all federal relief funding for the suffering people of Joplin until Democrats agreed to cut a similar amount from the budget.

The so-called "debt ceiling" crisis is upon us and it's becoming a test of sanity how long it will take all reasonable people to conclude that the Republican Party has painted its teeth orange, and jumped off a cliff.